









THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER 


In all the length and breadth of a certain busy little city in Central New 
York no fairer flower bloomed than “Little Mary,” the universally beloved little 
16-year-old, golden-haired, dimple-cheeked daughter of Richard (more famil- 
iarly known as “Dick”) Ford, the Chief Engineer in the large mills of John R. 
Porter. And, be it known further, no more thoroly patriotic soul ever breathed 
the breath of life than “Little Mary” Ford. 

Dick Ford was one of the best of fathers, and he idolized his little daugh- 
ter — it was a much-mooted question among the people which, his wife (Jennie 
Ford, a patient, painstaking, hard-working woman), or his daughter, he loved 
the more; it was, among the majority, however, considered about an even 
“toss-up” between the two. Dick Ford was well thot of by all who knew him. 

’Diametrically opposed in their natures, as compared with the character- 
istics of the family of Dick Ford, were the members of the family of John R. 
Porter, owner of the big mills. The home-life of the Porters was, because 
of the irascible disposition of John Porter, himself, most unhappy — no member 
of the family ever let slip by an opportunity to show his or her contempt for 
the feelings or the opinions of the other. 

Porter’s family consisted of his “high-and-mighty” notioned wife, Lydia 
Pennington Porter; his self-opinionated, 20-year-old son, Melton Ridgeway 
Porter, and his haughty, purse-proud, 18-year-old daughter, Florence Penning- 
ton Porter. 

Dick Ford, at 50, looked not more than 35 at the most, while John Porter, 
at the same age as Ford, looked to be close onto 60, as a result of his selfish, 
grasping, fretful, fault-finding propensities. 

The home-life of Dick Ford and his little family was, as a matter of course, 
most ideal. Sunshine, born of true love, permeated even the remotest corners 
of the home of “Little Mary” Ford. 

Mary’s private room in her happy home was prettily decorated with num- 
bers of various sizes of American flags, and it was her chief delight to spend 
a large portion of her leisure time among her beloved “Stars and Stripes.” 

Among other cleverly arranged decorations with which Mary’s room was 
embellished was a small flag secured to a small flag-staff that was fastened to 
a small table. This flag bore the euphonious appellation of “Mary’s Barometer 
Flag,” in that she lowered it to half-mast or raised it to full-mast, as the 
case might require, in denoting her frame of mind at the time of these cere- 
monies. While all was “bright and fair” with Mary’s affairs, the “barometer” 
flag remained at top-mast. And, likewise, when matters did not take a 
turn just to suit our little heroine, down came the “weather” signal to half- 
mast, denoting that Mary was not to be trifled with for the time being — 
“weather” conditions being thus forecasted as “cloudy, storms threatening.” 
And, later on, this “barometer” flag always plays a quite important part in the 
life-drama of our “Little Mary” and her love affairs. ' 

Occasionally Mary would seek seclusion in the garret of her home, wherein 
reposed (at other times undisturbed), an old trunk containing most of the 
playthings and other belongings of Mary’s at the time when she was a wee, little 
bundle of sweet childhood at the age of five, and Mary not infrequently experi- 
enced great joy in digging down into this old trunk and resurrecting divers 
of these relics of other days. Among the rest was an old rag doll clothed in 


2 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


an outfit made of Mary’s beloved colors, “The Stars and Stripes.” Mary would 
spend an hour or more, at times, dressing and undressing this doll. Now and 
then she would lapse into a reflective mood and, letting her mind revert to her 
babyhood days, she would mentally “see” herself as a child of five, playing with 
this “Stars and Stripes” dolly, dressing and undressing, scolding and loving the 
dolly by turns, and otherwise according her “baby” a true little “mother’s” care. 

Every individual employe of the great Porter mills knew and dearly loved 
“Little Mary” Ford — male and female, alike; and, in her turn, Mary made it 
clear, in various ways, that she deeply appreciated the great wealth of loving 
approbation accorded her. Likewise, Mary’s father, Dick Ford, the mill Chief 
Engineer, was highly respected by all of the employes, and he was prone to 
render himself full worthy of this high esteem. 

One of the seemingly irredeemable traits of John Porter was his pro- 
pensity for grinding, to the last cent, his employes in the matter of the already 
miserly pittance upon which they were forced to subsist. In conjunction with 
this disposition, upon the part of Porter, was his greatly inflated opinion of his 
own importance and the inferiority of his employes, in comparison. And this 
disposition of Porter’s was of a so aggravated nature that it had its baneful 
effect upon the ihdividual members of his own family. Also, whenever either 
Porter or his son, Melton, appeared in any of the work-rooms of the mills it 
was a signal for a hang-dog look upon the faces of the employes, and so great 
was their hatred of them both, that, as soon as their backs were turned, the 
attitude of the employes became threatening, and dangerously so, in showing 
their well-nigh murderous hatred of the “tyrants.” 

Another of Mary’s pleasant pastimes was the carrying of her father’s 
dinner to him at the mill. At times, as Ford, at noon, would sit just outside 
of the doorway of the engine-room of the mill, while Mary would go into the 
boiler-room and amuse herself in different cute ways. One day she picked up 
the fireman’s coal shovel, scooped up a shovelful of coal, and made a wild 
“stab” at the open furnace door. But, woe and woe ! she missed the door and 
the coal scattered over the floor ! With an indescribably ludicrously-cute 
grimace, Mary’s chagrin at the mishap was quite unmistakably apparent, and 
unconsciously she put her hands on to her face, the black from them rendering 
her face a comical sight. Suddenly realizing, she looked at her hands, and 
then wondered what her face must look like, and her facial expression of mock 
dismay was of Mary’s own, individual, comical cute style. About this time 
Ford finished eating his luncheon and called to Mary. When Mary, her face 
all spotted and streaked with black, came out of the boiler-room it was a signal 
for considerable good-natured merriment upon the part of the girls and men 
who happened to be passing on their way back to the work rooms. Sweet- 
natured “Little Mary” joined in the fun, and a couple of the girls, wetting 
their handkerchiefs in a barrel of water near by, removed the temporary dis- 
figuration from Mary’s pretty, smiling face, kissed her lovingly, and, as the 
employes waved to her, Mary started back home, the 1 o’clock whistle of the 
mill blew and the employes returned to their unpleasant labors. 

Shortly before the closing hour the following day Porter caused to be 
posted, in various places about the mills, notices to the effect that, beginning 
upon the following Monday morning, the pay of all employes in the Porter 
mills would be reduced (or cut) 5 per cent. And from this nucleus culminated 
events which resulted in there becoming attached to “Little Mary” the appella- 
tion of “The Little Strike-Breaker,” and, quite incidentally, well-nigh “The 
Little Heart-Breaker,” as well, with Melton Porter, regenerated, as the object 
of her “breaking” propensity. Paradoxical as it may seem, “The Little Strike- 
Breaker” was, withal, a most ardent Unionist, as subsequent events will dem- 
onstrate. 


THE'LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


3 


Upon leaving, at the close of the day’s work, the employes read these 
notices and discussed the situation — some excitedly, some angrily, while others, 
rnore cool-headed and conservative, considered the proposed cut with business- 
like determination. 

At their work next day the employes were more dogged and sullen than 
ever in their feelings and manners. During the noon hour discussion among 
them resulted in calling, for that night, at Grant’s Hall, a meeting to convene 
at 8 o’clock, for the purpose of arriving at some feasible conclusion as to what, 
if anything, could be promulgated for the amelioration of the future outlook of 
the employes. In response to the call of the 1 o’clock whistle all the employes 
returned to their work; but in the faces of all were registered unmistakable 
evidences of their outraged feelings, as the miserly pittance upon which they 
were, even then, compelled to eke out a poor unhappy existence was, they felt, 
as little as they could, in reason, be expected to be able to subsist upon, to 
say nothing of being able to enjoy any of the pleasant and desirable things 
of life. 

Practically all of the employes, male and female, were in attendance at 
the meeting that night; determination to win consideration for their just 
lights stood out clearly upon their faces and was shown with unmistakable bril- 
liancy in their flashing eyes. 

Our little heroine, “Little Mary,” was, as a matter of course, present at 
this meeting and, within the folds of her waist was secreted a small flag which 
came into prominent play later on. 

Dick Ford was made the Chairman of this meeting. After considerable 
quite interesting discussion, pro and con, anent the subject under consideration, 
a resolution was offered and passed, to the effect that an agreement should be 
drawn up, stipulating therein that, instead of suffering a 5 per cent cut in their 
pay, every man employed in the Porter mills shall be given an increase of 10 
per cent, upon a basis of an eight-hour day, in lieu of being compelled to labor 
any number of hours a day which Porter, in his niggardly selfishness, might 
see fit to inflict upon them. 

While further discussion was being indulged in, an agreement was drawn 
up by a committee of four which Chairman Ford had appointed for that 
purpose and, when completed, the agreement was read to the employes. At the 
conclusion of the reading of the agreement, Mary stepped up to the Chairman’s 
stand and asked to be allowed to look over the agreement. The request was 
cheerfully granted. Scanning the contents of the agreement a moment, Mary 
held it up before the committee which had drafted it and, pointing to the words 
“every man,” asked, a mingled look of questioning surprise upon her face, as 
all listened, breathlessly, to catch all that she seemed about to say: 

“Are you not going to protect the girls, also, as well as the men? It would 
seem to me that, in the place of the words ‘every man/ there should be substi- 
tuted the words ‘all employes.’ ” 

The great significance of their innocent error was thus driven home to 
the minds of the members of the drafting committee, the proposed change 
was made, and a rousing vote of thanks was accorded Mary for her wise con- 
ception. Then another resolution was offered and adopted, to the effect that, 
in case Porter should refuse to sign the agreement, a strike of all of the em- 
ployes in the Porter mills should be called at another meeting to be held at 
this same hall and at the same hour the following night, for the purpose of con- 
sidering and taking further action upon the committee’s report of the success, 
or otherwise, of their visit to Porter’s house, the next morning, in an effort 
to persuade him to sign the agreement. 

Then Mary, upon being inv», :d by a member of the committee to say a 
few words to the employes, cheerfully complied, and, after a preliminary 


4 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


remark, produced from her waist her flag, waved it gently a moment, then held 
it aloft and said : 

“By this sign shall we — you — conquer.” 

At this there were cheers and cries of “Hear ! Hear !” 

Continuing, Mary exhorted every employe to “Be true to your — these — 
colors, the glorious Red-White-and-Blue that we all love so well ! You — we — 
all of us, have suffered from the selfish tyranny of this monster in man’s 
image — John Porter! Let us, all, not hesitate to endure even further privations, 
if necessary, to the end that we may, God willing, bring to a favorable issue this 
all-absorbing question of a fair living wage at humanly-decent hours of labor 
per day!” 

Loud cheers and huzzahs were given those sentiments (so feelingly given 
utterance by their little idol), by the employes, and, after a few more words of 
similar calibre of sentiment, Mary proudly held aloft her flag in one hand, 
saluted with the other, and every employe, “as one man,” arose to standing and 
gave “Old Glory” the military salute. 

After this patriotic demonstration. Ford, calling another man to the chair 
temporarily, made an impassioned appeal to the employes to “Be men and women 
— true, loyal, patriotic men and women, and then, doubly sure, ‘by this sign 
(pointing to Mary’s flag which she was holding in plain sight of all), shall we 
conquer!’” (Loud cheers;) “Men protect. Serfs acquiesce! Men and women, 
be steadfast in the idealization of your determination to win this battle for 
the cause of human justice — let not the dark threats nor innuendoes of a soul- 
less tyrant intimidate you — let us, if, in the course of events it shall seem to 
be necessary, starve in the streets for the promulgation of a principle, that prin- 
ciple the justification of the rights of labor as entitled to a just share of that 
which it produces, to the extent of, at least, a fair, decent, living wage at a 
humanly-decent num.ber of hours per day labor !” 

Soon after the finish of Ford’s speech the meeting adjourned, sine die, and, 
Mary in the lead, proudly carrying her flag aloft, all quietly walked out of 
the hall. Upon the faces of all shone a peculiar set expression of determination 
to “win or die.” 

Before leaving the hall that night Ford made a private arrangement with 
his assistant engineer at the mill to take charge of the engine room during 
Ford’s compulsory absence as chairman of the committee appointed to call upon 
John Porter the following morning. 

Also, previous to adjournment. Chairman Ford told the employes that all 
were expected to be in their places at work at the mill the following morning 
the same as tho nothing unusual had happened, and to remain at work unless 
otherwise instructed during the day. In accordance with these instructions all 
the employes were on hand at their work promptly at the usual hour, with the 
exception of the members of the committee appointed to call upon Porter. 

Promptly at 8 o’clock on the morning after the meeting the committee 
called upon John Porter at his home. They were met at the outer door by the 
unctuous doorman, who conveyed to Porter (who, in his library, was enjoying 
his customary after-breakfast cigar), the committee’s message to the effect that 
they would like to be given an audience with him relative to the matter in 
connection with the posted announcement of a cut in the pay of his mill 
employes. 

Porter, in all the highly inflated opinion of his own individual importance 
and his opinion of the comparative inferiority oi all people who depend upon 
their labor for the food which they eat, made reply to the committee’s request 
for an audience by ordering the doorman to tell the men to get out of his 
house or be thrown out. This not altogether, mspiringly-encouraging message 
was conveyed to the committee (waiting in ‘the outer hall) by the unctuous 
doorman. 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


5 


Several of Porter’s subservient lackeys were stationed in various places 
about the spacious hall and Dick Ford looked wondcringly at one of these 
“lick-spittle” gentry — tall, gaunt and cadaverous in personal appearance, in 
contradistinction to the personal appearance of the fat, greasy-looking doorman. 
Shifting his amazed look from Porter’s lackeys to the different individual 
members of the committee. Ford, his face one large significant question mark, 
asked : 

“Upon what have they, our Caesars, fed, that we may not petition them?” 

In like puzzled wonderment, the men looked into each other’s eyes and 
read there determination to win this battle for justice or die fighting. 

Just then one of the lackeys, slightly more self-important than his fellows, 
sought to hasten the men’s departure by seizing Ford by the arm, as tho to 
put him out by physical force. Ford, grasping the momentarily-intrepid lackey 
by the wrist with his free hand, threw the lackey’s hand from him disdainfully, 
and, brushing the imaginary dust of contamination from the lackey’s touch from 
his coat sleeve, Ford, with a slight movement of his head, signalling the others 
of the committee to follow, led the way and the committee walked quietly out, 
while the subservient lackeys, catching the dangerous look in Ford’s eye, quaked 
with craven fear in the presence of a real MAN. 

At the previously scheduled meeting at Grant’s Plall, at 8 o’clock that night, 
the committee’s report of their visit to John Porter that morning was received 
and acted upon, resulting (automatically, by virtue of the action taken at the 
first meeting the previous night), in a strike of all of the employes of the Porter 
mills being called ; pickets were appointed to station themselves in the near 
vicinity of the grounds of the Porter mills to prevent, if possible by peaceable 
means, others taking the places of the strikers. After a few other important 
matters pertaining to the business in hand, the meeting adjourned, and Mary 
(holding aloft her beloved “Stars and Stripes”), leading the way, all the employes 
filed out of the hall in orderly manner. 

Upon arriving at her home and going to her room, after the meeting, Mary 
disovered that her “barometer” flag was at top-mast, upon which, proceeding 
directly to the table, Mary, with the most rueful look imaginable, solemnly 
lowered the flag to half-mast and, as tho about discouraged, she feebly saluted 
the flag. Just then, tho, fired by the enthusiasm of a determination born of 
necessity, Mary straightened up proudly, and gave the flag a sure-enough regula- 
tion salute with all the vim and military precision at her command, presenting 
a most fascinating spectacle, her naturally pretty face wreathed in the sweetest 
of dimpled smiles, while her bright eyes flashed forth the sparkle of a true 
American girl’s high-minded determination, the beautiful picture she thus pre- 
sented emulating, with the degree of superior worth in favor of every 
patriotic American girl, as a true queen, over and above any hereditary 
monarchical sovereign of all time. 

After the unsuccessful attempt of the committee to obtain an audience with 
John Porter, upon the morning in question. Ford and the other members of the 
com.mittee went to the mill and attended to their respective duties as previously. 
Also, in accordance with an understanding had at the meeting at which the 
strike was automatically called, all employes, including Ford and the other 
members of the committee, were in their places at work at the mill as usual 
the next morning. At the noon hour, as had been previously arranged, Ford 
officially called the strike and, the order being rapidly carried to all of the 
employes, all walked out, quietly, in a body, the facial expressions of all of them, 
without exception, showing that they were terribly in earnest. The walkout 
was witnessed from the office window by Porter and his self-opinionated son, 
Melton, as they exchanged contemptuous remarks and confidently, with many 
sneers, told each other that there would be plenty of “serfs” to fill the places of 
the strikers, and be glad of the chance, in a day or so. 


6 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


On his way to his work that morning Ford had stopped in at a printing 
establishment and ordered some posters, printed in large type, the following 
call for a mass meeting: 

Big Mass Meeting of All Employes of the Porter Mills, at GranPs Hall, on 
Railroad Street, at 3 O’clock This, Wednesday, Afternoon, May 14. 

The strikers attended this announced mass meeting in full force, and ways 
and means were discussed, pro and con, anent the lines considered most effica- 
cious along which to fight their battle for justice. 

Immediately after the walkout of his employes. Porter went out and procured 
the services of several “plug-uglies” to patrol the mill premises and prevent 
the strikers doing any picketing there. 

Nevertheless, undaunted by Porter’s hired thugs’ presence, the appointed 
pickets of the strikers picketed the near proximity of the mill premises, tho 
clashes were imminent at almost any moment. 

At Grant’s Hall, meanwhile, the afternoon meeting was in full swing, 
speeches were being made, when, in the midst of a speech by one of the mem- 
bers of the strike committee, something of a commotion was created in the rear 
of the hall by two of the pickets, faces bleeding and bruised, clothing torn, etc., 
stumbling into the hall. Upon being taken up to the front, near the chairmans 
stand, the men, in broken sentences, told their fellow-workers that they had 
been set upon by Porter’s hired thugs and beaten up outside of the mill premises. 

This information had the effect, upon the strikers, equal to that of a live 
coal being dropped into the midst of a quantity of highly explosive powder, 
and one man yelled out : 

“To the mill!” 

And that but-a-moment-before quiet and orderly assembly of men and 
women was instantly metamorphosed into a howling, seething, vengeance-seeking 
mob, crazy-bent upon doing murder if occasion presented. 

On to the great mills they went, rushing, driving forward with all the 
terrible momentum of an avalanche of loosened earth down the steep descent 
of a mountain-side — onto the mill — and with no more moral restraint in their 
mad drive to swerve them from their insane craving for vengeance than would 
govern the great landslide of the dynamited mountain. 

Porter and Melton, looking thru the office window, beheld this awful 
enraged sea of humanity swooping down upon their weak defenses, and they 
witnessed their guards being trampled underneath the heels of outraged manhood 
and womanhood. 

On the mob rushed, the outer enclosure of the mill premises crumpling- 
before them like so much dust upon the rails under an onrushing railroad 
locomotive running wild, with no human power possible to avert seemingly 
certain impending disaster, ruin and death. 

But, awful and dire as its threatening hatred — a hatred made murderous 
by its intensity — no evil can come to the loahed objects of the frenzied mob, as 
a power more potent, many times more far-reaching in its influence for good, 
is working to an ameliorative end. 

This wonderful, mysterious power is fated to be wielded, in a few short 
moments, by a little sixteen-year-old girl, possessing a mind so bright, a heart 
so true and a soul so pure that, with this wondrous power under her control, 
no earthly power for evil can resist its soothingly convincing charm. 

The little girl whose mission it is, in the course of this narrative, to bring 
order out of chaos, happiness out of black despair, is our little heroine, “Little 
Mary” Ford, who, her beloved flag clutched tightly in her pretty little hand, 
pushed her way thru the madding throng of laborers and, at the front of the 
mob, at last, she mounted a convenient box, in full view of Porter and his 
son, Melton, thru the office window, Mary waved her glorious “Stars and 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


7 


Stripes” on high before the surprisedly-startled gaze of the strikers. Instan- 
taneously every individual man and woman of this terrible mob became as 
motionless as any piece of solid statuary, gazing, for one brief moment, upon 
that grand old ernblem of peace, the glorious American Flag. Then, with a 
precision as unerring as the aim of an American gunner upon an American 
battleship, and as one man, every individual man, woman and child in that 
mighty mob gave “Old Glory” the regulation military salute and held it for a 
moment — then, as Mary put out her left hand, holding the flag up in her right 
hand, the inspiring picture which she thus presented was that of a grand 
statue scupltured from orignal marble by a master hand. This inspiring sight 
so affected the hearts, the minds, the very souls of the strikers, that all were 
awed for a moment, in silent adoration of the grand old emblem of peace and 
happiness, the picturesque, statuesque insignia of combined purity and power. 
Then Mary spoke to the workers, saying : 

“Men and women — you who, by the sweat of your brows earn your daily 
bread and that of those whom you hold dear who are dependent upon you, give 
heed ! This grand old flag will protect you ; but, it will not protect those who 
• rob you of the fruits of your labor! You, all, profess undying allegiance to 
these beautiful colors — the Red-White-and-Blue, the glorious Stars and Stripes, 
and, now, in the name of ‘Old Glory,’ I command you to wait here, and see what 
a girl can do, aided and abetted by a so-powerful and potent factor — the Ameri- 
can flag. Give to me the agreement. Then wait here, while I go into that 

office and seek to influence John Porter to sign his name to it, in which event 

I will wave this glorious emblem of peace and good-will, the flag, from out of 
that office window. In event he shall refuse to sign — but he will sign — he 
must!” And Mary gave emphasis to her final utterance by stamping her little 
foot in a manner that brooked no trifling with its determined little owner. 

In puzzled astonishment, and struck with amazement, dumb for the 
moment, John Porter and his son, Melton, stood, gazing out of the office 
window, spellbound by the truly awe-inspiring sight that they beheld. 

Upon a command from Mary, the leaders of the mob put their shoulders to 

the fast-locked office door and broke it in, and Mary, with the flag in 

one hand and the agreement in the other hand, entered the office, the employes 
remaining outside. 

As the men were breaking in the office door. Porter and Melton, thus 
aroused from their condition of mental stupefaction, stood and awaited the 
aftermath, their knees quaking in craven cowardice, confidently expecting that 
their final hour upon earth was near at hand, and knowing full well, in their 
fear-maddened souls, that they richly deserved all that they believed was about 
to happen to them. 

When Mary entered the office alone, instead of (as Porter and Melton 
had expected) being followed by the avenging mob of strikers, their false 
courage returned, in a measure, tho they “kept an eye” upon the door, “on 
suspicion,” so to speak, and cast apprehensive glances, now and then, toward the 
window at the strikers outside. 

Once inside of the office, Mary walked straight up to John Porter, held 
up the agreement in front of him, and pointing to the place for the signature, 
said to him in a tone that carried conviction with it: 

“Sign here!” 

Porter glanced apprehensively toward the door and window, alternately, and 
then at the agreement which Mary still held up for him to sign, both he and 
Melton showing great fear. As Mary seemed about to continue speaking. Porter 
doggedly listened to hear whatever she may have had to say, feeling that, in an 
instance of this sort, the time-honored adage that “Discretion is the better 
part of valor,” is a pretty good piece of advice, at times, to heed. 


8 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


Commanding Porter’s strict attention, Mary, looking him squarely in the 
eye, said to him: 

“John Porter, this flag, which has protected you, is protected by the strong 
arm of Labor. The arm which protects the flag must be upheld in its just 
rights !” 

Then, her eye flashing the “busy” signal into Porter’s shifty eyes, Mary 
gradually relaxed her stern look (noting that Porter was wavering in his 
decision, and realizing that this was the “psychological moment” for action), 
then, with her sweetest womanly smile, Mary continued, pointing, specifically, 
once more to the signing place on the agreement : 

“Sign here, Mr. Porter.” 

It is, oftentimes, reverently remarked that “God works in a mysterious way 
His wonders to perform.” And so it seemed to be in the case of the regenera- 
tion of John Porter, for, slowly, but surely, out of the “brute-man” there was 
born a MANLY man — the sweet, mysterious influence for good wielded over 
Porter’s sordidly-clouded mentality by “Little Mary’s” purity and sincerity of 
purpose, in conjunction with the equally mysterious influence wielded by Mary’s 
flag, seemed to act as a tonic to his brain, the healthful reaction of his mental 
powers regenerating his nature and causing him to realize that nearly his 
entire life had been a terrible nightmare of errors, and he is thus rendered 
conscious of the great injustice, in well-nigh every conceivable way, which he 
has inflicted and caused to be heaped upon the erstwhile defenseless heads 
of the laboring classes. John Porter realizes, for the first time, perhaps, in his 
life, that “might is not right,” as in that case, in this particular instance, 
“might,” being most decidedly upon the side of Labor, he and his selfish inter- 
ests were at its tender (?) mercies. These wholesome thoughts flashed thru 
Porter’s brain in a short-few moments, and he “saw a great light” shining like 
a beacon of safety upon a rock-bound coast, pointing to himself the pathway 
that was free from the hidden dangers that shipwreck the fondest hopes of 
man ; and, as he thought along these lines, there came stealing into his face 
a kindly smile which emanated straight from a purified soul, the like of which 
had not graced the money-mad features of John Porter for many long selfish 
years ; and, now that he was purging from his nature all sordid selfishness, all 
of that which can be desired in life was his, supreme soul-happiness in the 
realization that he was about to perform an act that would “render unto Caesar 
the things that are Caesar’s” in conceding to the representatives of Labor (as 
exemplified by the employes of his great mills), their just demands and their 
God-given rights. Taking his fountain pen, John Porter, actuated by pure, 
wholesome motives, and not by any craven feeling of cowardly fear, cheerfully 
and with a right good will, signed the agreement, giving to every employe in 
his mills an increase of 10 per cent in pay, with eight hours a day labor. 

Quite apropos, just about along here in this narrative, might be the giving 
of a moment’s attention to Melton Porter, the true “son of his father,” as the 
old saying goes. 

While the preceding events were taking place, Melton was a decidedly 
interested spectator, and that cute, universally beloved little fellow, Dan Cupid 
(affectionately referred to now and then as the “Little God Love”), was about 
as busy a little fellow as one ever sees, “working overtime,” and in “rounding 
up” his quarry, he was “hitting only the high places,” as they say in the ver- 
nacular, to attain his desired ends ; and be it known, further (as he usually 
does whenever he sets about it in earnest), he won out — he “rung the bell” of 
Melton Porter’s heart, and said Melton (the erstwhile contemptible, self-cen- 
tered, opinionated young scion of the House of Porter, who, even yet, lived up 
his well-earned nomenclature of “a true son of his father”), was affected for 
the better by the sweet purity and depth of sincerity reflected in the nature 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


9 


of our little heroine, and he is “heels-over-head” in love with demure “Little 
Mary” Ford, the daughter of his father’s mill engineer. 

Every mother’s son of earth (no matter what his station in life, be he the 
most learned theologian of a past age or of modern thot education, or be he 
of the lowest dregs of the great crime-laden Underworld), fears the object of 
his affection — a fear conceived in love, and become pregnant thru a half- 
defined feeling of subconscious respect — a noble fear, rather than the brand that 
is the aftermath of craven cowardice. And Melton Porter (physically an 
Adonis, well able to take full care of himself in any possible physical encounter 
with his fellowmen), mortally fears this wee mite of human femininity, sweet, 
demure “Little Mary” Ford; so, hopefully, of course, but none the less ner- 
vously, and with most uncomfortable feelings of misgiving and doubt, he stepped 
forward, as his father signed the all-important document (the agreement), and, 
extending his hand to Mary, he “looked” a humble appeal to be included in 
the sharing of the warmth of the glorious sunshine of her gracious smile. 
In the gladness of their hearts, at the outcome of the strike, both Porter and 
Mary, all in friendly good-nature, were struck, simultaneously, with the humor 
of the situation of the capitulation — unconditional surrender of Melton, and 
both burst out laughing. Catching the spirit of good-will, Melton, too, sensing 
the humorous side of the situation, laughed and joined in the merriment, thus 
relieving, somewhat, the severe strain upon his nerves caused by the tension 
born of uncertainty and a horrible possibility that Mary might ignore his 
pathetic appeal for recognition absolutely. So, Melton, dwindled, in his own 
estimation, to a mere speck upon the earth, as compared with the little girl 
whom he now idolized, was rendered well-nigh insanely happy when Mary, still 
holding Porter’s hand in her right hand, took Melton’s hand in her left hand, 
across-wise, and he felt that, for the first time in his life of twenty years the 
resplendent sun of supreme happiness shone in his soul in all the brilliancy of its 
transcendent glory. 

And now Mary, having opened the door, so to speak, and let the sun- 
shine of life into the souls of John Porter and his son Melton, is mindful of 
her further work in the promulgation of her pre-arranged plan to display 
her flag from out of the window in case of her victory in influencing Porter 
to sign the agreement ; so she went to the window, raised it and waved out of 
it her beloved “Stars and Stripes.” 

Upon either side of Mary, as she waved her flag from the open window, 
stood John Porter and Melton, their faces smiling the happiness which they 
inwardly experienced. 

The vast waiting, half-anticipatory assembly of strikers outside were un- 
usually patient, so great was their faith in Mary, and they quietly stood their 
ground, pending the result of her effort. 

When Mary raised the office window and waved her flag out of the window, 
there was one tense moment of awed silence, as is the case at the passing of 
a great crisis favorably. Then, from out all those hundreds of willing throats 
there issued a mighty shout that rent the very heavens in the height of its 
great happiness— the men threw up their caps in the exuberance of their joy, 
and the girls frantically waved their handkerchiefs in giving outward expres- 
sion to the inward happiness which they experienced — the strike was off— the 
agreement was signed — the day was saved — the cause of Labor had won, and 
all thru the mighty power of influence wielded by “Old Glory” in capable hands 

the dear little hands of their beloved, idolized little friend, “Little Mary’’ 

Ford, from now on known among them all as “The Little Strike-Breaker.” 
Three mighty cheers and a “tiger” swelled from the throats of the strikers, upon 
which, with Mary in the lead. Porter and Melton came out upon the porch of 
the mill office, whereupon the throng gave three more cheers and a “tiger,” this 


10 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


time the “Hip, hip, hoorays” being specifically given for John Porter, with cries 
of “Speech ! Speech !” from the strikers. Then Mary held up her “flag of 
victory and peace,” commanding silence, and the mighty throng became silent. 
John Porter stepped slightly forward and spoke, saying: 

“All — you respected women and honored men : I am more glad to be placed 
in this position than I am able to give expression to in words. Thanks to 
your unusually bright-minded and brave little ‘Commander’ here. Miss Ford, 
aided and abetted by the wondrous power of the glorious ‘Stars and Stripes,’ 
(mighty cheers and huzzahs), a great light has filtered, slowly but surely, thru 
my brain, and has rendered clear my mentality to the end that now, as never 
before in all the over 50 years of my error-laden life, I see a great white light 
that shines as a mighty beacon of safety from out the Aegian darkness of a 
misshapen past, and this miraculous metamorphosis of an erstwhile selfish, 
sordid nature into a clearly defined, justice-dispensing reality is your assurance 
that, in future, for all time, as long as I shall live, the interests of every indi- 
vidual employe in the great mills bearing my name shall be my interests, and 
the welfare and rights of Labor, in general, shall be my constant watchword. 
And now, men and women of the Porter mills, I propose, first, three rousing 
cheers for the glorious ‘Stars and Stripes,’ and a ‘tiger’ and three more hearty 
cheers for ‘The Little Strike-Breaker,’ your brave little ‘Commander,’ Miss Mary 
Ford. Now, ‘boys and girls,’ altogether : ‘Hip ! Hip ! Hooray !’ for the grand 
old ‘Stars and Stripes !’ ‘Hooray Hooray !’ and a ‘tiger !’ And, now, altogether, 
for ‘The Little Strike-Breaker !’ ” 

Joining Porter in the three cheers and a “tiger” for the Stars and Stripes, 
the employes then, with a hearty good-will, also joined in the mighty cheering 
for “Little Mary,” their little idol. 

Then, in token of mutual friendship. Porter asked the privilege of shaking 
the hand of each member of the committee who had called at his home as rep- 
resentatives of the sentiment of the employes as a whole, and each member of 
the committee stepped forward and cheerfully shook hands with Porter, after 
which Dick Ford, mounting the steps, faced the vast throng of employes and 
proposed that all go their various ways for the balance of the day, and, at the 
usual hour the following morning all to be in their places at work in the mills. 
This proposition was acquiesced in by Porter and the employes, and, Mary in 
the lead, proudly waving her beloved emblem of victory and peace, the employes, 
in a happy frame of mind, marched quietly away. Porter and Melton watching 
them depart, the look upon their faces showing that they were well pleased. 

Just before Mary, holding aloft her flag, disappeared from view, she turned 
toward Melton and, with one of her prettiest, most tantalizing, dimpled smiles, 
waved her little hand toward him. This little act, of short duration tho it 
was, transported Melton away up into the Nineteenth Heaven of Ecstatic Bliss 
— he had been individually favored by the object of his heart’s love and his 
soul’s adoration ! He happily waved back at her, and started as tho to follow 
after her. But, at this show of possible intention of following, the pretty 
little tease, with a saucy toss of her shapely head wreathed in a bewildering 
array of golden curls, and a bewitching dimpled smile that would make a saint 
assassinate his own grandmother, ran on, ahead, and disappeared from Melton’s 
heart-hungry view. 

Many things in life seemingly go by contraries. And so it was with Mel- 
ton’s frame of mind — a condition diametrically opposed to that naturally result- 
ant from a shade of possible disappointment; he was, nevertheless, very happy — 
“The Little Strike-Breaker” had deigned to give him specific proof that she 
recognized the fact that he existed. A crumb of comfort is, to a love-hungry 
heart, as a feast to the physically starving body. 

Upon arriving at her home and repairing at once to her room, Mary, noting 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


11 


that her “barometer” flag was at half-mast, indulged in one of her prettiest 
pouts, for an instant, and proceeded to raise the flag to full-mast, the pout 
being then dispelled by her face becoming wreathed in one of her most cap- 
tivating dimpled smiles. Producing, then, her “flag of victory,” Mary lovingly 
smoothed its silken folds, talked to it in confidential tones, and in various ways 
demonstrated her unswerving confidence in its potent power for good. 

When John Porter and Melton arrived at home that evening Mrs. Porter 
and her daughter, Florence, could scarcely believe their eyes nor their senses 
upon beholding the really humanly-affectionate looks in the eyes and upon the 
faces of both, and when each, in turn, lovingly embraced and affectionately 
caressed them, they looked at each other and at Porter and Melton in stupid 
amazement — had the millennium arrived? — had the end of all things earthly 
come — it must be so — or — or — they could think no further — their mental facul- 
ties had become cross-sectioned — they were powerless to separate and mentally 
dissect their thoughts. However, by patient, loving kindness and a clear expla- 
nation of the day’s happenings, and their great significance in results, the 
befuddling scales of unbelief in the humanity of man to man dropped from 
their eyes, and mother’s and daughter’s heart and soul were flooded with 
the sunshine of love and their short-comings washed away by the cleansing 
power of the “milk of human kindness.” 

Upon the following morning all of the employes were in their places at 
the mills, attending, cheerfully and happily, to their respective duties. 

Dick Ford was at his post, that of chief engineer of the Porter mills. At 
noon, as was usual before the strike, Mary arrived, promptly on time, with 
Ford’s dinner. Soon the noon whistle of the mill blew, and Ford, sitting just 
outside of the engine-room door, ate his luncheon, while Mary, as heretofore, 
amused herself in her own individual way. 

At various times during the day Porter and Melton made individual visits 
to different parts of the mills, and in each instance their presence was greeted 
with pleasant, kindly looks from the employes, all seemingly striving to clearly 
demonstrate that they were all willing to meet their employer half-way in 
showing evidences of mutual good-will. And it did Porter and Melton a 
world of moral good to note the looks of content and happiness upon the faces 
of the men and women of the mills. 

In contradistinction with the pleasing situation, otherwise, in the affairs 
of our friends, one little cog in the immutable “wheel of life” is not, just now, 
running particularly smoothly, because, as highly as John Porter respects 
“Little Mary” Ford, he cannot, as yet, for some mysterious reason of (perhaps) 
a feeling of “false pride” look kindly and without some degree of opposition 
upon the prospect of his son being in love with and a (consequently) possibility 
of his marrying the daughter of his mill engineer. And strange as it may seem. 
Porter is not quite clear, in his own mind, to say nothing of being able to give 
Melton any convincing reason, why Melton should not (providing he is able to 
gain Mary’s consent^ take Mary Ford as his wife— any more than the fact 
that she is the daughter of his mill engineer, and that Melton is the son of 
John R. Porter, the mill owner. The situation really, after all, resolves itself 
into a case of merely “just because,” and stops there, the conclusion being 
arrived at “without rhyme or reason,” as is, now and then, the_ case with all 
of us, in the matter of deciding that we do or do not desire this, that or the 
other thing — “Oh, well — I don’t know — just — well, because!” 

The opposition of John Porter, the father, however, is all to no purpose, 
in so far as the son, Melton Porter, is concerned— if he can succeed in win- 
ning Mary’s love, and can, thus, influence her to become his wife; he will 
marry her — he loves her, dearly; and, to use his own expression to his father, 
when they were speaking upon the subject one day, he “doesn’t give a rap who 


12 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


knows it, either !” Upon this occasion Melton followed up his remark by 
adding : 

“And full well do you know, father, and I know, too, that ‘The Little 
Strike-Breaker’ is, in every way, the superior of either myself or yourself !” 

This rather pertinent, but mightily truthful, assertion rather caught the fancy 
of the elder Porter and, tho he was not, as yet, entirely won over to Melton’s 
way of thinking in the matter, he felt less opposition than he had previously 
felt, and Dan Cupid smiled — the little “Love God” should worry — he knows 
he will win eventually — he bides his time, does the little heart-cementer — his 
shield is all-over emblazoned with the one word: “VICTORY.” He should 
manifest concern. 

At social functions, both Melton and his father are accorded royal wel- 
come; in business circles the acquaintances of John Porter extend to him the 
right hand of fellowship. 

Ah ! What a mysterious, wonderful thing is love — true love ! Melton 
Porter, not so very long ago the self-sufficient, self-loving sycophant, hut now 
the humble, ardent lover, feels that never before in his life has the glad sun- 
shine of a worth-while life so permeated his soul with the soothing warmth 
of its irradiant glory as it now does, and all because of the influence of a 
never-ending motion picture of sweet, dimpled, saucy, captivating, fascinating 
smiles following each other in rapid succession o’er the pretty face of the lovely 
“Little Strike-Breaker,” which Melton constantly “sees” in his mind’s eye, as he 
indulges, ever and anon, in sweet “day dreams” — mental visions of the wor- 
shipped face of his heart’s idol, “Little Mary” Ford. 

And what of “Little Mary”? Well, that little worker who “sleeps” with 
both eyes open, Mr. Dan Cupid, Esq., caught “The Little Strike-Breaker” nap- 
ping, took her unawares, and he pierced her tender little heart thru with one 
of his keenest-pointed darts, upon the end of which, with wondrous ingenuity, 
he had secured a stenciled initialed letter “M,” which embedded itself in her 
soul, and “Little Mary” Ford correlatively confides to herself and her “barome- 
ter” flag that she loves Melton Porter. Ah ! So runs the world. 

Time went on, as time has a peculiar habit of doing, and one day, about 
a month later, Mary was in her room, affectionately talking to her beloved flags. 
She had prettily arranged her “Flag of Victory” in a conspicuous place, and 
was addressing it confidentially, then standing at ‘‘attention” she gave “Old 
Glory” the military salute. The “barometer” flag was at top-mast, denoting 
“All’s well” — that Mary isn’t “on strike” about anything. 

At this same moment Mary’s father (having come cautiously to do a little 
“scout work” in ascertaining the “lay of the land,” so to speak, for the benefit 
of Melton, who had called and was right then waiting in the sitting-room to 
see Mary), carefully opened the door of the room and peered cautiously in. 
Noting that the “barometer” flag forecasted “bright and fair,” and observing 
the military salute to “Old Glory,” Ford was mightily well pleased and, smiling 
happily, he softly closed the door and returned to the sitting-room, where he 
laughingly told Melton that “Mary isn’t on strike,” and that he would go back 
and have her come into the sitting-room. This information caused Melton 
to hope that all might yet be well ; so, while Ford was absent from the sitting- 
room again, Melton indulged in happy thoughts. 

Ford this time went boldly to Mary’s room and told her that “someone is 
waiting in the sitting-room to see you,” accompanying this information with a 
“knowing” smile. 

This piece of wonderful (?) information caused Mary to “spring” one of 
her prettiest pouts, which pout gradually dissolved into one of her inimitable, 
cute, pretty, dimpled smiles ; and, with a parting salute to “Old Glory” she went 
into the sitting-room, where, in a merely friendly way, she greeted Melton. 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


13 


A moment later, Ford, with a parting- pleasant remark, made his wise 
“get-away,” leaving Melton a free field and fair favor. 

And then, for the period of about half an hour (during the length of Mel- 
ton’s stay), Mary made life miserahly-sweet and sweetly-miserable for Melton 
by “keeping him guessing” — “in hot water,” so to speak — now he hopes that 
Mary loves him — now he thinks that, maybe, she does — now he feels sure that 
she does — now he feels sure that she does not — and, so it went, from time to 
time, upon the occasion of several succeeding meetings — sometimes in her home, 
sometimes at the mills or upon the streets, in the course of events. 

And now, at the mill, things were moving along smoothly, with all of the 
employes (working under fair conditions as to their pay and their hours of 
work, and treated, in a general way, as human beings should be treated), were 
happy, industrious and painstaking in the interests of their employer, 

Mary, taking her father’s luncheon to him each day, as usual, was always 
a welcome caller, and the manner of all toward her, upon her arrival each day, 
and upon her departure near the end of the noon hour, was full evidence of 
the deep reverence and high steem borne her by all of the employes — male and 
female, alike. 

About two months after the events just recorded a dark cloud arose upon 
the roseate horizon of the “Love Route” of Melton and Mary — the cloud of 
suspicion against the honesty and integrity of Mary’s father, as chief engineer 
of the Porter mills, because of the suspiciously large coal bills being presented 
to Porter for payment. Porter was convinced, by reason of these unreasonably 
large bills, that someone was “putting something over” on him, as the perhaps 
more-expressive-than-elegant slang phrase goes ; and as Porter’s chief engineer, 
Dick Ford (as is the practice in the case of most large mills and factories), 
always signed all of the receipts for every load of coal delivered at the mill, 
Porter, “putting two and two together,” became convinced that Ford was rob- 
bing him, alone, or was in cahoots with someone connected with the Coal Com- 
pany, in a conspiracy to defraud him. So, forthwith. Porter engaged the serv- 
ices of a private detective to watch Ford and to secretly keep track of all 
the coal delivered at the mill for the ensuing month. 

Upon the 1st of the following month a bill was rendered to Porter, for 
payment, for seventy-two loads of coal more than had been delivered at the 
mill, during the preceding month, according to the private detective’s report. 
For checking-up purposes Porter demanded, of the Coal Company, that all of 
the Chief Engineer’s receipts for the coal be produced, so one of the partners 
of the Coal Company brought the receipts to Porter’s office and he and Por- 
ter went over them, with the result that the number of receipts bearing Richard 
Ford’s signature, as Chief Engineer of the mills, tallied exactly with the num- 
ber of loads of coal charged for in the monthly bill rendered. 

Porter being, now, convinced beyond all doubt that Ford had been system- 
atically robbing him, in conjunction with someone connected with the Coal 
Company’s office, preferred formal charge against Ford for conspiracy to de- 
fraud and, after a preliminary hearing. Ford was remanded to jail to await 
trial. 

Poor “Little Mary” was well-nigh heart-broken by the accusation and her 
father’s subsequent imprisonment, for the faith in her father’s integrity was 
as firm as the famous “Rock of Gibraltar.” 

Now, for some mysterious reason, the explanation of which Mary was 
not able to make quite clear to herself, even, she believed that Melton was, in 
some way, to blame for the accusation and subsequent imprisonment of her 
father, and the result of this remarkable conclusion of Mary’s was that she 
positively refused to have anything to do with Melton from the moment that 
her father was accused, by Porter, of robbing him. So deep-seated was Mary’s 


14 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER'. 


conviction that Melton was more or less to blame for it, all, that she would not 
even grant him a moment of her time to speak with her, ignoring, absolutely, 
all attempts upon his part to speak with her. 

Poor Melton — he would yield up his heart’s blood for “Little Mary,” if 
need be, and he was well-nigh beside himself with grief, because of her treat- 
ment of himself. And, yet, in his soul, he did not blame her — innocent though 
he knew he was of deserving any such treatment — on the contrary, her undying 
faith and loving loyalty to her father only fanned the fierce fires of Melton’s 
holy love for Mary the more and caused him to so highly idealize her that, out 
of a mental condition bordering upon despair, was evolved the crystal of a 
determination to prove Richard Ford’s innocence (in which he — Melton — be- 
lieved in, absolutely), and the practical outcome of this crystalization of 
worthy effort was that Melton, secretly, employed Counsel to defend Ford, 
as well as a private detective to work, secretly, upon the case, in Ford’s be- 
half. Also, arranging with some of Ford’s co-worker friends, Melton fur- 
nished the amount of a cash bond for these men to use in securing Ford’s 
release from custody, pending trial. These men were sworn to .secrecy re- 
garding this matter, also. Melton was determined that Mary should not know 
of his action in the interests of her father; to accomplish this end, the more 
positively, not even Ford was allowed to know that Melton had even so much 
as “lifted a finger” to aid him. And all of this because Melton was deter- 
mined that he should win “The Little Strike-Breaker’s” love by virtue of true 
love, alone, and that he would not accept her favor bestowed in gratitude for 
what he was doing for her father. “Love goes where it is sent,” and no man, 
woman nor child can swerve it from its wonted course. So Melton believed, 
too, and he realized that a so-called “love” begotten in a spirit of gratitude 
for a personal favor performed, was not true love, but only an outward mani- 
festation of appreciation which, in the course of time, would pall upon the 
finer sense of intellectual mentality; and, by that same token (though Melton 
felt that he could not exist without Mary as his wife), he was possessed of the 
degree of sterling manhood in his nature which, brought to the surface by the 
influence of a great grief, made it possible for him to become possessed of 
the firm determination to win Mary’s true, spontaneous love, untainted by any 
possible hint of gratitude, or suffer the awful consequence of losing her, en- 
tirely. So, thus it was why Melton insisted upon absolute secrecy regarding 
the manly part he was enacting in the behalf of the father of his heart’s idol. 

And our little heroine ! Alas ! Her sweet love for Melton still continued 
to burn, despite her mental feelings relative to Melton because of her father’s 
trouble. But, dearly as “The Little Strike-Breaker” loved Melton, her great 
love for her father was paramount to all, and as heretofore remarked, it was 
this very element of the high character of this very temperamental girl which 
raised her in Melton’s estimation and placed her upon a still higher, more 
lofty eminence, in his opinion, than ever. And so it was, as things, oftentimes, 
do go by contraries, great as was his grief because of Mary’s treatment of 
himself, still greater and more intensified was the apotheosis of her which thus 
obsessed his mentality. 

Upon returning to her home in company with her mother, Mary repaired 
to her room and sadly lowered her “barometer” flag to half-mast. Finishing 
this ceremony she stood, stock-still, in sorrowful, reflective mood and indulged 
in mental pictures of herself meeting Melton, upon the street, and, as he essays 
to greet her, she giving him a cold stare, turning her back upon him and pass- 
ing on, denying Melton the privilege of speaking even a word with her ; and 
Melton, crushed in spiri\ goes his way. Then, her poor, little, loving heart 
almost broken, the unhappv little girl burst into tears and for a time assuaged 
her grief in the cleansing, fkurifying tears of anguish, during which her mother 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


15 


cuddled her in her loving arms and, in this never-failing haven of rest, Mary 
sobbed herself to sleep, her mother rocking to and fro. 

Meanwhile, John Porter, determined to arrive at the truth, in the matter 
of the evident coal bill fraud, engaged highly capable counsel; in addition, he 
secured the services of a handwriting expert to examine the receipts and ascer- 
tain whether or not they were all signed by the same person. Porter believed 
they were all so signed and he expects, thus, to prove Ford’s guilt and send him 
to prison. 

Mary’s “barometer” flag remained half-mast, now, all the time, and the 
very unhappy little girl stayed in her room, most of the time, in alternate sulks 
and pretty pouts. Upon one of these occasions, in particular, Mary momen- 
tarily indulged herself in a mental picture of herself in Melton’s arms, he lov- 
ingly caressing her, and the sweet, pretty smiles which dimpled her lovely face 
were inspiringly beautiful. Then, the vision disappearing, she seemed to be 
aroused from a sort of comatose condition of mind and, with a half-angry- 
with-herself, petulant toss of her pretty head, she pouted and sulked by turns. 
Then, standing ta pathetic figure) in front of her flag, she half-heartedly (at 
first) saluted the flag. Then, out of patience with herself for such a display 
of lethargy in this patriotic ceremony, she straightened, stood at “attention” 
and accorded “Old (jlory” a dignified, military salute ; then, her face wreathed 
in a sort of half-pout-half-dimpled-smile, she turned and left the room. 

The day of Richard Ford’s trial, upon a charge of “conspiracy to defraud,” 
came, at last, and John Porter’s hand-writing expert testified that, in his opin- 
ion, all of the receipts were signed by one and the same person. Things were 
looking pretty dark for Dick Ford, for the preponderance of the testimony, so 
far, was terribly against him. Unswerved, however, from their belief in Ford’s 
innocence, his many present friends, while feeling downcast and gloomy, gave 
Ford considerable encouragement by their presence and moral support. 

In the motley gathering at the trial there were, as is almost invariably in 
attendance, in a case of this sort, present representatives of the ubiquitous class 
known, unfavorably, as the “I-told-you-so” contingency, and their significant 
face expressions, sly winks and nods, openly labeled them at their true value 
— all others knew them for what they were. 

Ford, in the course of the proceedings is called to the witness chair and 
questioned. The suppressed excitement attending the anticipation of that which 
Ford was about to say in his own behalf was apparent and the situation was 
tense. All eyes were upon Ford — some in the firm belief of their owners as 
to Ford’s innocence despite the overwhelming evidence against him ; some 
were in hopeful doubt, while some others believed Ford to be guilty. 

After a few preliminary questions, the Prosecutor handed all of the re- 
ceipts bearing Ford’s name signed to them, to Ford and asked hiiji, point blank, 
whether he did or did not sign them, himself, in person. 

Ford, scarcely glancing at the face of the receipts, ran through them, com- 
paratively, quickly, giving special attention to the reverse side (or, the back) 
of the receipts, dividing them into two separate piles, as he proceeded. Fin- 
ishing, he handed one lot to the Prosecutor, saying, as he did so: 

“/ signed these!’ Then, handing the Prosecutor the other lot, he said : 
“But, these I did not sign!” 

The nervous strain and tenseness of the situation, in the court room was, 
by this time, even more (if possible) pronounced than before. 

Ford’s real friends’ hopes were buoyed and their belief in Ford strength- 
ened by his statement; the half-doubtful-yet-hopeful ones acquired a larger 
percentage of hopefulness, while the “I-told-you-so’s,” scenting ignominious 
defeat, still defiant, nodded and winked at each other, 'in a desperate effort to 
render their position of “Doubting Thomases” seem the more tenable. 


16 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


The Prosecutor, more or less non-plussed by Ford’s statements, a lurking 
suspicion of a doubt in his mind as to Ford being guilty, after all, asked that 
the receipts, as divided by Ford, be checked up with the private detective’s re- 
port of the number of loads of coal actually delivered at the Porter mills dur- 
ing the month in question. 

Upon the Prosecutor’s request being granted and acted upon, it was found 
the number of receipts which Ford had declared that he did not sign was just 
72, the exact number of the over-plus loads charged in the bill, more than there 
had been, during that month, delivered at the mills, according to the private 
detective’s report. 

At this revelation, Melton, his private detective and Ford’s Counsel smiled, 
enigmatically, and the Prosecutor was the more puzzled, while John Porter 
“sat up and took notice.” 

“Little Mary,” her beloved “Flag of Victory” concealed in her bosom, was 
a deeply interested listener, vitally alive to all that was said, upon both sides, 
an the turn affairs had appeared to take, in her father’s favor, caused her un- 
happy, worried face expression to change to a look of combined happiness and 
puzzled wonderment. 

Considerable speculation was indulged in, by the spectators, as well as 
by the Judge, Prosecuting Attorney, etc., as to just how Ford would be able 
to prove, satisfactorily, his statement to the effect that he did sign some of 
the receipts and that some of them he did not sign, and all strained every nerve, 
listening, highly curious to learn of the secret method by which Ford was able 
to detect the spurious signatures (or, the forgeries) from the genuine ones. 

Upon Ford being requested, by the Prosecutor, to explain to the Court his 
secret method of detecting the genuine from the forged signatures. Ford made 
the following statement : 

“I am always able to detect a forgery of my signature by a secret, private 
mark which is in evidence only upon the back, or reverse, side of the paper 
upon which it is written. The secret, or private mark is in the beginning of the 
cross-line of the initial “F” of my last name, “Ford,” in that I press the pen 
(or pencil, as the case may be) thru the beginning of the cross-line, slightly, 
just sufficiently to enable me, upon close inspection, to detect it; but, not enough 
for the casual observer to notice it. If you will examine the backs of both lots 
of those receipts, all bearing my name signed to them, you will find that one 
lot shows, upon their reverse sides, the secret mark referred to, and that the 
other lot does not show this secret mark.” 

After the Prosecutor had examined a few of the receipts from both lots, 
he was convinced that Ford had spoken truly and that he had, thus proved, 
beyond all possible doubt, his innocence of the charge against him, and he so 
stated. 

Porter clearly realized the clumsy error he had committed in the matter 
and, seeking to (in some degree, at least) undo the great injustice he had caused 
to be inflicted upon Ford, he hastily asked to be allowed to withdraw the charge 
against Ford, and the Court’s answer to Porter’s request was to immediately de- 
clare Richard Ford discharged from custody — that he was free to go. 

Instantly, upon Ford being freed, Mary jumped up, took out and waved, 
triumphantly, her “Flag of Victory,” a moment, and then rushed into her father’s 
arms as friends surged about Ford, seeking to congratulate him. 

The Judge, noting Mary’s action, smiled his approval, came down from the 
Bench, approached Mary and her father and offered his hand to Mary, compli- 
menting her, speaking also a friendly word to Ford. 

Mary modestly and with a pretty, dimpled smile, shyly accepted the 
Judge’s hand in friendship and, upon the Judge speaking of Mary’s “Flag of 
Victory,” Mary, holding the flag aloft, proudly gave the military salute, in 
which she was joined by the Judge. 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


17 


Melton, taking renewed courage at Mary’s happy frame of mind sou^^ht 
to speak with her. But Mary ignored him, turning her attention to her father 
and the Judge. Melton, sorely hurt, bided his time. 

Porter, feeling remorse, offered to Ford an humble apology, adding that 
he would do his utmost to place the forger of Ford’s name behind the prison 
bars. Ford, bearing no malice, smilingly accepted Porter’s hand and offer of 
renewed friendship. 

When Porter stepped up to Ford and asked for forgiveness, Mary turned 
her back upon Porter— they must “show her’’— she is not so easily won over, 
But when Porter signified his determination to apprehend and summarily pun- 
ish the forger of her father’s name, Mary turned to Porter and, with a gra- 
ciously sweet smile, offered her hand in friendship to him. Porter very gladly 
accepted “The Little Strike-Breaker’s’’ offer of friendship, even tho he did not 
quite approve of his son being in love with her; for. somehow, he entertained 
a very high respect, after all, for this humble little daughter of his mill engi- 
neer and he had no desire to court her enmity. While Porter held Mary’s 
right hand in his, Mary waved aloft her beloved “Flag of Victory.” 

’Tis said that “Hope, born of true love, never dies.” And so it was with 
Melton; for again Mary’s display of good humor emboldened him to attempt 
to speak with her. But no sooner did Mary note this than she disfigured her 
sweet face with an unlovely frown and the heavy clouds of displeasure chased 
each other, in rapid succession, o’er her features, as she turned her back upon 
Melton after staring, coldly, for one brief instant, at him for his seeming pre- 
sumption in assuming that she would deign to notice him. Taking her father’s 
arm, wishing the Judge a pleasant “good day” and with a friendly parting re- 
mark to Porter, Mary and her father started for home, the others following 
her example. 

Melton (big-hearted and broad-minded, now, as he was the direct oppo- 
site in his nature in “the old days”), tho feeling deeply hurt, by the treatment 
being accorded himself by Mary, forgave her -in his hea,rt and he tells himself 
that “God’s in His heaven and all’s right with the world,” and that, all in good 
time, he will win “Little Mary’s good grace and that all will be well with him 
and her. 

That afternoon John Porter engaged two high-class private detectives to 
work upon the forgery case and they began their secret operations at once. 

The following day, as Mary was passing along upon the walk, lovingly ca- 
ressing and confidently addressing her beloved “Flag of Victory.” a bold, un- 
chivalrous gust of wind, taking Mary unawares, caught the flag out of her hand 
and blew it across the street. Nothing daunted, Mary pursued her erstwhile re- 
calcitrant emblem of peace across the street and captured it upon the walk, 
near an open window of the office of the Coal Company. 

As Mary was picking up the flag she heard the name, “Ford” spoken and 
her attention thus attracted, she listened and heard the two partners of the 
Coal Company quarreling. She caught her breath in a gasp as she heard one 
of the men say to the other : 

“Well, it don’t matter — we didn’t ‘put it over’ on Ford and now ‘Old Man’ 
Porter will be hot on our trail!” 

Not stopping to hear more, Mary hastened to the mill and the engine- 
room and told Ford of what she had overheard at the coal office. She and Ford 
then hurried into the mill office, where Porter and Melton were, and told Por- 
ter about it. Hurrying to the coal office, they arrived just in time to overhear 
the other man retort ; 

“I didn’t forge Ford’s name, they can’t ‘get’ me !” to which the other partner 
hotly retorted : 

“The hell they can’t I You got half of what my forgeries brought! It’s 
getting too hot for me — I’m going to make my ‘get-away’ !” 


18 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


While Mary was at the mill, after her father and Porter, the two partners 
rifled the safe of its cash, divided it and made other hasty preparations for sud- 
den departure. They were about ready to dash out of the office when Porter 
and the others overheard the foregoing conversation. At that moment. Ford 
slammed open the door and rushed into the office, followed by Porter, Melton 
and Mary, saying: “Not yet!” 

Caught thus, “like two rats in a trap,” the two partners were, for the 
moment, stupefied with amazement. Rallying almost instantly, their momen- 
tarily deadened senses, they both attacked Ford and as a hand-to-hand en- 
counter-fistic raged between the two partners against Ford and Melton (Porter 
weakly seeking to give the latter assistance), Mary darted out of the door 
and ran down the street, looking for a policeman. 

Before running a great way, Mdry encountered and pressed into action two 
policemen and they hurried to the coal office. 

Meanwhile the battle raged, between the two partners, upon the one side, 
and Ford, Melton and his father, upon the other side, and odds were about even 
until Ford’s superior strength and Melton’s athletic training were victorious 
and they had just beaten the two partners into submission when Mary returned 
with the policemen. 

Upon being approached by the policemen, to place them under arrest, 
the two partners again showed fight, but were soon over-powered and taken 
to the police station, Mary producing and waving, triumphantly, her “Flag of 
Victory,” just outside of the coal office, after which they proceeded on their 
trip to the police station. 

At the police station, a charge of forgery was preferred against the one 
partner, and a charge of accessory before the fact, against the other, they 
were booked and locked up. As the two men were being taken away to their 
cells, Mary held up her “Flag of Victory” and all saluted it. 

As they were leaving the police station, Melton, thinking that, now, Mary 

might, possibly, allow him to address her, attempted to do so. But Mary coldly 

avoided him, took her father’s arm and they all left the police station, starting 
for their respective destinations. 

Dick Ford, of course, after the favorable turn of affairs, went back to his 

old position as Chief Engineer in the Porter mills. 

A few days after the arrest of the Coal Company partners. Porter strolled 
into the engine room of his mill and pleasantly greeted Ford and his Assistant* 
Engineer ; and with a parting pleasant remark he went again passing, on his 
way to his office, several of the employes going about their respective duties. 
He greeted them all in a friendly, familiar way, and they responded in like 
spirit. 

Ah 1 How very true is it that “One touch of nature makes the whole world 
kin,” no matter in what station of life an over-discriminating (shall we say 
kind) Providence has placed one or the other of us mortals in. 

One Sunday afternoon, quite some time later, Melton called at Ford’s home, 
ostensibly to call upon Ford; but, primarily for the express purpose of, if pos- 
sible, having a few words of conversation with Mary, hoping thereby to be 
able to again share her favor. 

Ford admitted Melton and greeted him warmly; but Mary “frosted” his 
friendly advances with a cold, formal bow and by uttering in a far-off-sounding 
tone : 

“Good afternoon, Mr. Porter.” 

With the above quoted cold greeting Mary passed on out of the room 
and did not return again during Melton’s stay, except in the instance of looking 
in at the door a moment at Melton, longingly, all unknown to Melton. Her little 
heart saddened (for, after all, she clearly loved Melton). Mary was just about 
to sigh when Melton seemed about to look around and Mary, startled, frowned 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


19 


darkly a moment and then, with one of her prettiest pouts, she dodged back 
out of sight and went to her room, where her “barometer” flag was at top- 
mast. Feeling “blue” and out of sorts (because, despite all that had since trans- 
pired, she could not rid herself of the feeling that, in some way, Melton was 
more or less to blame for her father’s trouble over the coal bills), she sadly 
and dejectedly lowered the flag to half-mast, whereupon she half-heartedly sa- 
luted the flag, looked especially unhappy, threw herself upon the bed and in- 
dulged in a good cry. 

Melton stayed only a short time after Mary left the room. As he went, 
Ford sought to comfort him by urging him to keep a stout heart and that,’ 
maybe, something would come about, all in good time, to cause a change for 
the better in Mary’s attitude towards him. 

Some time later, after the events just recorded, John Porter took his son, 
Alelton, into equal partnership with himself in the mills and a beautiful, large 
sign was being secured in place by workmen just as the mill employes were 
quitting work for the noon hour. Porter came along and admired the new 
sign, called Melton and. he came, saw and admired, likewise. Also the employes, 
upon seeing the new sign, were well pleased — the men threw their caps' up; the 
girls waved their handkerchiefs and all gave a rousing cheer for the new firm 
of John Porter & Son. Just then Ford and Mary came along and, upon Mary 
noting the new sign, out came her beloved “Flag of Victory,” which she waved 
on high, as all again gave a mighty cheer for the new firm. 

Mary’s sweet face being all aglow with pleasure, Melton again entertained 
a faint hope of friendly recognition from her. Instantly, tho, as Melton essayed 
to speak to her, a “thunder-cloud” of displeasure flitted o’er Mary’s face, as 
she gave him one fleeting hard look and poor Melton again retired to igno- 
minious defeat, well-nigh broken-hearted as Mary, kissing her father and wav- 
ing her hand toward those of the employes who still happened to be there, 
started to return home. 

One day, a year after the big strike. Porter and Melton, looking over the 
firm’s books, found that the profits had increased, during the year, 20 per cent 
over those of the preceding year. Melton spoke of the matter to his father and 
as Melton continued looking over the books, his father grew retrospective and 
indulged in “day-dreams”, in which mental pictures he “saw” himself, first, in 
the midst of unpleasant scenes which existed under the conditions of the old 
regime — the sordid, fault-finding grouch, his family ill-natured and ill-tem- 
pered as a result. John Porter winced visibly, as these unpleasant scenes, 
panorama like, ran before his mental vision, until finally these unwelcome 
thoughts were 'vitiated and annihilated by a pleasant picture of himself, his 
family, his employes and conditions in general, as they now existed — pleasant, 
harmonious and happy in his home-life and in his business relations as well as 
with his hundreds of contented employes, during which he saw, in letters of 
fire, the words : 

“Fair wage, fair hours and fair treatment pay good dividends, while poor 
zvage, poor hours and poor treatment pay poor dividends.’" 

Porter coming out of his reverie, he and Melton looked over the books 
some more, and it was plain to see by the expressions upon the faces of both 
that they were well pleased with the ledger footings. 

Finally, Melton looked up and at his father, with, a rather quizzical ex- 
pression upon his face and remarked : 

“Well, father, our books show an increase of 20 per cent in profits during 
the past year since the strike, instead of a big decrease, which you said you 
feared would result if you granted the request of the employes for more pay 
and shorter hours.” 

The elder Porter replied that he realized now that he was terribly mistaken 
in his pre-diagnostic ideas at that time, a year previously, and he expressed to 
Melton his pleasure because of the fact that the employes did make the de- 


20 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


mand which “The Little Strike-Breaker”, with the potent influence of her 
flag, caused him to grant by signing the great “Agreement”; for the firm was 
not only making more money, but that, in addition, he had found a real joy in 
living, such as he had never known in all of his previous life and which, quite 
likely, only for the demand and its results, he would not even now be .experi- 
encing. And then and there John Porter, the proud old man who could not 
previously bring himself to look favorably upon a possible marriage between 
his son and the daughter of his mill engineer, fervently murmured : 

“God bless ‘The Little Strike-Breaker’ !” 

Melton nearly fell off the stool upon which he was sitting at a desk, look- 
ing oyer the ledger. Stealing a side glance at his father’s face, as tho to 
read his innermost thought, he hopefully asked ; 

“Do you mean that, father?” to which the elder Porter replied, squaring 
himself before Melton (who had gotten off the stool and was standing in front 
of his father), and placing a hand upon either shoulder: 

“Melton, my boy, I do mean it — ‘Little Mary’ Ford is one in a thousand 
and — .” Porter was about to add that he thereby withdrew his objections to 
her when Melton enthusiastically broke in upon him with : 

“Oh, but father, she’s one in a million — aye, a thousand million, father !” 
The elder Porter (checking his further utterance, upon Melton breaking in 
upon what he had been about to add) smiled indulgently at his beloved son’s ul- 
tra enthusiasm in sounding the praises of Mary. 

Melton and his father talked in a general way a few minutes when 12 
o’clock, noon, was heralded by the sounding of the mill whistle and Melton, 
putting on his hat, went out of the office, while John Porter, with a kindly 
smile, nodded his head approvingly, knowing full well that Melton was going 
around to the engine-room in the hope of catching a glimpse of a certain little 
fairy whom people called “Mary.” 

It was true that Melton expected that Mary would be in the engine-room, 
and it was equally true that she was there, but all the satisfaction (?) Melton 
realized from the fact though, was a cold, distant nod of her head from Mary. 
A few minutes later Ford, happening to look up and toward Mary, secretly ob- 
served that Mary was casting secret, longing looks at Melton. Ford noting 
Mary’s look of longing toward Melton, shook his head sadly a moment, sorry 
that matters stood as they did between the two young people and all because 
Mary, for some mysterious reason, known only to herself, steadily refused 
to accept Melton’s attentions. 

Just then Melton happened to look up. Noting Ford’s gaze, he followed 
it and observed Mary looking at him. Mary, however, being in a sort of reverie- 
condition of mind just then, did not notice (tho looking right at him) that 
Melton was observing her act until Melton, in essaying to go to her, aroused 
her from her mental quietude when, instantly she assumed a haughty manner 
of cold dignity, "turned her back upon Melton and went outside of the engine- 
room. Strolling about the mill yards, she mingled in a friendly way with 
numbers of the employes who were always glad of an opportunity to have 
Mary with them. 

Melton, deeply cut by this rebuff, was well nigh discouraged of ever being 
able to win Mary’s favor again when Ford, in a “joshing” way, good-naturedly 
remarked to Melton: 

“Never mind, Melton — better luck next time”. To which Melton, who 
entered into the spirit of the situation and joined Ford in a laugh, replied: 

“Yes, Mary is still on strike, but I’ll make her sign a Life Agreement, yet!” 

This rejoinder caused Ford to laugh heartily and patting Melton upon the 
back in a friendly manner, replied : 

“That’s the stuff, Melton; that’s the way to talk. Never say ‘fail’,” upon 
which Melton clasped Ford’s hand. Ford gave Melton’s hand a sympathetic 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


21 


squeeze and Melton, imbued with a new courage, born of renewed hope re- 
turned to the office. ’ 

Time rolled relentlessly on as time has a habit of doing. A year (since the 
events last recorded), passed and nothing of special moment happened, unless 
we might rnention the still greater increase in the profits of the Porter mills 
TVT 1 Mary” Ford was still on strike against accepting the attentions 

of Melton Porter, in consequence of which condition, sad to relate her “barome- 
ter flag was still at half-mast. 

Six months more flit by and we find Mary’s “barometer” flag yet at half- 
i^st. She is still “on strike”, but Melton’s love for her is steadfast and true 
True love never dies.” 

Thus two and one-half years have passed since the great (tho brief) 
strike and its satisfactory settlement by “Little Mary”, aided materially by her 
Flag of Victory , and thanks to the loyalty of those who had promised secrecy, 
neither Mary nor her father as yet know of the noble work executed by Mel- 
ton in behalf of Ford at the time of his trouble over the excessive coal bills. 

The dark clouds of disaster hang heavy in the beautiful sky of cerulean 
blue, all unknown to the fated victims of the impending danger. Sailing along 
safely and with happy mien upon the vast ocean of activity, or cruising idly 
along the shores of leisure, the pawns of destiny, in smug assurance, little 
dream of the terrible portion of life’s penalty about to be meted out to them by 
the never-changing Law of Karma, the immutable law of cause and effect. As 
the mysterious cosmic forces of nature work along smooth, sequacious lines, 
governing the never-failing rising and setting of the sun, the formation of the 
various mineral substances of the world’s commercial entity, seeming, at times, 
diametrically opposed to all order and imperfectly fitting in with the pigmy 
ideals of the infinitesimal minutiae of humanity; so, paradoxical, or even chimeri- 
cal as it may, upon first thought seem to be, true it is that the vicissitudes of 
every-day existence are fraught with hidden dangers which, conjoined with psy- 
chological influence may, after all, metamorphose into real blessings in disguise. 
Left to their own unbridled whim, however, only scarification of its otherwise 
splendid opportunity for the amelioration of those whom it is destined to effect 
can result. “Only the brave deserve the fair” is as true and immutable during 
this age of much vaunted advancement and super-civilization as with its tenet 
as exemplified in the medieval period of time when “Knighthood was in 
flower” ; and to attain that which is worth having, more often than otherwise 
and indisputably the more fully and sincerely appreciated it is true that 
seekers after desired treasure must pass through trying ordeals, go down into 
the great crucible of life in order to separate the dross from the pure gold of 
their inner selves, purified as it were by fire. “From out the seething caldron fed 
by the unrelenting fires of fate there shall arise a new self, a re-born soul.” 
And so it came about in the course of the events affecting our her® and heroine, 
Melton Porter and “Little Mary” Ford. The “sun” of their life’s happiness 
emerged, triumphantly, from out the chaos of seemingly hopeless darkness, and 
at last shone forth in all the refulgent brilliancy of its transcendent glory and, 
being no coruscation, but a steady, never-ending glow, their supreme happiness 
caused to dwindle into practical comparative, insignificance, the physical agonies 
strewn along the path o’er which they were forced to travel in order to reach 
their “haven of joy”, turning from the sufferings which they so heroically en- 
dured to partake of the pleasant simile of the appoggiaHira. 

Analogous with the foregoing dissertation were the detersive events which 
transpired in the lives of the Porter and the Ford families, soon after the two- 
and-one-half year period of time following the strike. 

“Upon this glorious autumn morning of the incontrovertibly seeming im- 
pending doom of our friends, all Nature partook of the incomparable beauty 
of the heaven-reflected glory of earthly existence. And, also, likewise (sad to 


22 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


relate, perhaps, and yet — sing Hallelujahs to the Unerring Governing Force of 
the Universe) was inchoate the alpha which resulted in the celestial omega of 
the unhappy, constrained relations between Melton and Mary. An undermining 
influence was slowly but surely eating its way thru the iron-bound protection 
from disaster — the accumulated rust of the months which had merged into 
years had already eaten its way into the steam pipes of the boiler in the Porter 
mill to such an alarming extent that, upon this morning in question, only a 
slightly greater pressure of steam was essential to force the weak, rust-eaten 
places thru and spread ruin and possible death in its awful wake. 

In the office of the mill, John Porter and Melton were busy with various 
routines of their large and rapidly increasing business. 

Dick Ford and his Assistant Engineer were each attending to their respec- 
tive duties in and about the engine-room, while the fireman in the boiler-room, 
all unconscious of the fact in compliance with an order for an extra supply 
of steam for a certain purpose, the high pressure thus accrued was soon to 
cause a terrific explosion of the boiler because of the weakened places in the 
rust-eaten pipes. 

The noon hour was approaching and Mary, singing happily, en route to 
the mill and carrying her father’s luncheon to him, was nearing her all-un- 
suspected doom, unmindful of the tricks of Fate. 

Mary arrived at the mill at the time when the mill whistle was sounding 
the hour of noon, being greeted affectionately by her father and given a hearty 
welcome by those of the employes whom she happened to meet. Ford, sitting 
outside of the door of the engine-room, began to eat his luncheon and Mary, as 
was her wont at times, proceeded to amuse herself in her own sweet, cute 
way in the boiler-Poom, quite apposite in “The Little Strike-Breaker,” while 
most likely anyone else would have been denied this doubtful privilege. 

Ford, finishing his luncheon and being curious to know what nature of 
prank Mary might be up to, betook himself to and entered the boiler-room. 
He had scarcely gotten inside of the boiler-room when, preceded slightly by an 
ominous rumbling and a terrible roar, there was a titanic explosion — the boiler 
had burst! 

That portion of the mill was almost completely wrecked and the white-hot, 
hissing clouds of steam issued forth from the wreckage. By a strange freak of 
the action of the force of the explosion, a portion of the walls of the boiler 
room were left standing, forming an inclosure of the steaming cavern of 
death. 

Porter and Melton came rushing out of the mill office; large numbers of 
the employes streamed out of the building and all hurried to as near the scene 
of ruin as it seemed physically safe to get. 

Looking around and not seeing anything of Ford, a half dozen of the 
stronger men in the crowd rushed into the wrecked boiler-room in search of 
him. A few minutes later they came out, bearing Ford, unconscious, between 
them. They placed him, at a safe distance, upon the ground, where he was 
attended, temporarily, by some of those present. 

Melton hurried to Ford’s side and (as Ford returned to consciousness, but 
quite seriously injured) made inquiry as to the possible whereabouts of Mary. 
Ford, weakened by his injuries, was able to speak only in a whisper and bro- 
kenly, and Melton, bending over him, was able to catch only the words, faintly 

murmured : i j i -i 

“Mary— there,” as Ford feebly tried to point toward the wrecked bdiler- 

In the twinkling of an eye, Melton’s coat was off and he had rushed (sink- 
ing all thought of self into insignificance, thinking only of Mary’s welfare) into 
that seething, hissing, death-dealing pit of hell. 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


23 


To change, slightly, a well known quotation: Greater love than this hath 
no man, that he risk his own life to save that of another. 

Inside the wrecked boiler-room, Melton was scarcely able to faintly discern, 
through the clouds of steam, outlines, here and there, to guide him in his search 
for Mary. Feeling his way, wherever it was possible, and trusting to his 
intuition for the rest, Melton, fighting his way thru the debris scattered about 
and thru the clouds of breath-destroying steam, finally fell, pitching headfore- 
most, over the prostrate, unconscious form of Mary, pinned underneath a heavy 
piece of timber. Frenzied beyond control by the sight of his idolized darling 
thus imprisoned (possibly dead), and aided by that mysterious degree of su- 
per-human (under such existing conditions) physical strength, born of a 
crazed brain, Melton succeeded in raising and removing the huge piece of burnt 
timber lying across Mary’s unconscious form. Lifting her in his arms, he stag- 
gered his way back thru the steamy distance, out of the boiler-room, into the 
open air, where he was relieved of the burden of the dead weight of Mary by 
others who then looked after her, just as Melton, his false strength having 
deserted him, fell, unconscious, into the arms of one of the men. Melton, his 
clothing torn, face blackened, hands and arms burned by the steam, was a 
most pitiable sight. And Mary presented a similar appearance. 

Melton, Ford and Mary were immediately removed to their homes, physi- 
cians called and their wounds dressed and they given proper care otherwise. 

A couple of weeks passed by, and Melton was able to sit up, convalescent, 
his health progressing very nicely. 

Ford, the less seriously injured of the three, was up and around, tho he 
still wore a bandage upon his left arm. 

Mary, however, was not so fortunate as either her father or Melton, as 
she was yet confined to her bed, tho coming along nicely, considering the serious 
nature of the injuries which she had sustained. 

It was the fourteenth day after the explosion that Ford, noting Mary’s 
improved condition, took occasion to tell her about her rescue by Melton from 
what otherwise would have resulted in certain death. 

Mary, in spite of her quite painful injuries, was rendered very happy upon 
being told about Melton saving her life, and she requested her father to re- 
move the small table, upon which was her “barometer” flag at half-mast, over 
to a place, near her bed, where she could reach it. 

Ford realized that the great psychological moment had arrived and he in- 
stantly and cheerfully complied with Mary’s request, whereupon Mary, reaching 
over, one of her very sweetest smiles upon her pretty, invalid face, and a look 
of ineffable love in her pretty eyes, raised the flag to top-mast and, proudly 
raising her right hand, she gave the military salute, in which she was happily 
joined by her father. 

“Hooray! Hooray!” quoth Ford, in mental soliloquy, “the strike is off — 
hooray !” 

Altho, of course, Mary did not hear her father’s inwardly expressed 
thoughts, she noted his supremely pleased cast of countenance and with a wo- 
man’s intuition, she guessed correctly the cause, as Ford had all along sided 
with Melton and had sought to influence Mary in his favor. 

A few days later Melton (having almost fully recovered from the effects 
of his injuries) called at the Ford home, ostensibly to call upon Ford; but, in 
reality, however, to learn how Mary was progressing. 

On his way Melton happened to pass by a store in the display window of 
which were a large number of American flags artistically arranged. His attention 
being attracted to them, he stopped and looked in thru the window and admired 
them. As he stood there admiring the flags, a very brilliant idea was con- 
ceived in his mind and he smiled to himself, amusedly, as he pictured himself 
executing the idea. Putting his thot into action, Melton went into the store. 


24 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


purchased a small flag, secreted it in his coat pocket and proceeded on his 
way to Ford’s. 

Melton was admitted to the house by Ford, who told him that Mary was 
feeling quite some better and getting along very nicely. Mary, over-hearing 
the conversation, recognized Melton’s voice and, with a cute, mischievous smile, 
she reached over and lowered her “barometer” flag to half-mast, “just”, as she 
told herself, “to tease Melton a little,” and then comically assuming an angry 
(?) look. 

Ford told Melton to “take a chair,” adding that he would look and see if 
Mary was awake. Upon going to the door of Mary’s room he looked in just 
as Mary lowered the “barometer” flag and assumed her pretended angry look. 
Handing himself a happy snicker, on the side, unobserved by Mary, Ford went 
back and, with a doleful look upon his face, told Melton that Mary was awake 
and that he could go in and see her. So Melton, followed by Ford, smiling 
to himself, went in to see Mary. 

The sight of the half-masted flag, after having noted Ford’s doleful look 
upon coming out of Mary’s room, caused Melton’s heart to sink like so much 
dead-weight lead and his stock of courage went away below par. However, he 
went, “like a lamb to slaughter,” to Mary’s bedside, arriving at which, he re- 
membered the flag in his pocket. 

Producing the flag, Melton waved it, half-hopefully, before Mary’s startled 
(and yet, amused, withal, gaze) he just barely venturing the faintest trace of 
a smile. 

This cleverly expressed sentiment, upon the part of Melton, caught the 
little tease unawares — she was not proof against the potent power of “Old 
Glory” to influence for good and she capitulated, absolutely — unconditionally 
surrendered the Citadel of her Heart and permitted the grand love of Melton’s 
beautiful loyalty to enter — she had not the “heart” to tease him, further ; her 
facial expression melting into a most wondrously sweet, womanly smile of 
love, she reached over, cutely coy, and raised the “barometer” flag to top- 
mast, after which important ceremony, she looked demurely down. 

To say that this simple act of Mary’s instantaneously transported Melton 
to the nineteenth heaven of ecstatic joy and celestial bliss, would be putting 
it mildly — the high degree of the exquisite pleasure which permeated his be- 
ing was absolutely indescribable — at least the most cherished hope of his earthly 
existence was actually realized — “The Little Strike-Breaker” has, in a very 
pretty manner, cleared his mind of all possible doubt — she LOVES him — the 
long drawn out “strike” against Dan Cupid was broken. The little “Love God” 
had, at a seemingly terrible cost, scored a “home run.” To Melton’s mind, the 
end fully justified the means. 

Tenderly (that he might not cause pain to her not-yet-fully-recovered-from 
injuries) Melton took Mary into his arms and pressed upon her yielding lips 
his first kiss — a tender kiss of true love, and the look of ineffable joy upon 
the faces of both (even including Dick Ford) was such as to set the golden 
harps of heaven strumming in glad accompaniment with all the angel voices 
of the heavenly hosts of the grand celestial choir. 

That evening as Melton was sitting in his easy chair in his room at home, 
he looked unusually happy and at peace with the world — for, of a verity, it 
was true that “God’s in His heavefi and all’s right with the world.” 

Becoming sentimentally reminiscent, Melton allowed his mind to “roam at 
will,” so to speak, and it reverted to the period of time, two and a half years 
previously, when his heart’s idol “Little Mary” Ford stood in front of and 
checked, with her flag, the insane frenzy of the murder-mad mob, bent upon 
destruction and death, at the very door of his father’s office; then, when, proud- 
ly holding aloft her flag, she entered the office, demanded of his father that 
he should sign the agreement, her success in influencing his father to comply 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


25 


with her demand, and a few more of the eventful happenings of that memorable 
day. Then he mentally viewed the arrest, trial and acquittal of Mary’s father; 
he saw himself arranging with and paying over money to the private detective, 
the Counsel for Ford and the co-workers of Ford who assisted him in secur- 
ing the release of Ford, pending trial. With slight, barely perceptible nods of 
Ins head in a faint expression of his satisfaction at the outcome of matters, at 
that time, he took his writing materials and penned a note to Ford’s co-work- 
ers, releasing them from their promise of secrecy. The wording of a portion 
of the note was as follows ; 

“ and I have won ‘The Little Strike-Breaker,’ at last — the great, 

long-drawn-out strike against Dan Cupid is broken — and so you boys are, 
hereby, released from your promise of secrecy in regard to what I did in be- 
half of Mr. Ford at the time of the trial. And please accept my grateful ap- 
preciation, boys, for your loyalty in a good cause.” 

When the men at the mill received the above note, there was no small 
degree of joy apparent in their faces — the information rendered them very 
happy, for every last one of the employes in the Porter mills had learned to 
highly respect both Melton and his father and they had a tender spot in their 
hearts for Melton, as touching upon his love affair. ^ 

That same evening the men lost no time in calling upon Ford at his home. 
They were admitted by Ford who gave them friendly greeting and then con- 
ducted them (being accompanied by Mrs. Ford) to Mary’s room, where Mary, 
in bed, also accorded the callers a friendly welcome. 

While one of the men was telling Ford all about Melton’s note to them 
and its purport, Mrs. Ford sat near the bed, holding Mary’s hand; so she and 
Mary heard it all. 

They gave Ford the note which Melton had written to them. Ford read it, 
looked mightily well pleased, handed the note to Mrs. Ford and she and Mary, 
together, read the note, its contents causing both to look very much pleased and 
Mary, in particular, was indeed rendered very happy in being thus able to 
realize the splendid effort which, after all, Melton had made in behalf ofjier 
father. 

As soon as Mary had read the note releasing the men from their promise 
of secrecy, she asked her father to assist her to a sitting position in the bed, 
which he did; then, upon Mary’s request, he moved the table upon which was 
her “barometer” flag at full-mast, to a position where it would be, as nearly as 
possible in front of herself. This accomplished, Mary, sitting up in the bed, 
with the lovely dignity of any Queen, gave “Old Glory” the military salute, in 
which the others all joined, after which the callers, with a few P^tmg pleas- 
antries, took their leave, in a happy frame of mind, leaving those in Ford s home 
equally sure that life is “one glad, sweet song,” after all. 

Another half year glided by, all too swiftly, it seemed to some of those 
who had not been able to accomplish quite all that they hoped to be able to 
do- but, none too soon did Old Father Time cause the days and the months 
to pass to suit one Melton Porter who was anxiously looking forward to a 
certain future day, during the seemingly long drag of all those long months 
the great day, upon the third anniversary of the strike, the day of days, the 
day that Dan Cupid scored on a “home run” which brought The Little Strike- 
BrLker” safely to the “home-plate” of Melton Porter; the happy Melton hav- 
ing quite some time previously, presented his lovely little 

diainond ” “to have and to hold” for life, looking forward to the time in the 
vears of the future when a couple or more of little re-porters would be run- 
ning around in his and Mary’s happy home, seeking what they may devour in 

the way of infantile amusement. n i Pirhorfl 

Everything was hustle and bustle in the neat, well-kept home of Richard 


26 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


Ford, upon this most auspicious of all days; but, withal, everything moved 
along with most unerring precision, in making the final preparations for the 
wedding of Melton and Mary. 

The evening of the wondrous day came on, apace (as all evenings do, in 
the course of time, sooner or later) and all was in readiness for the sweetly 
mysterious ceremony which would change the name of one wee bit of sweet 
femininity to the name of a handsome, manly, stalwart young gentleman, by 
name Porter. 

The room in which the marriage took place was most tastefully decorated 
with American flags and a temporary, flag-draped altar held the place of honor, 
equally with that of Mary’s “barometer” flag upon the small, flag-decorated 
table alongside of the altar. 

The assembled guests, composed of a large number of near relatives, inti- 
mate friends and acquaintances, chatted gaily, awaiting the approach of the 
great moment in the lives of two highly worthy souls, when, softly and with 
the undulating rhythm of heaven-born inspiration, the sweet strains of “Here 
Comes the Bride” floated through the room, the “buzz-buzz” of the little con- 
versations, here and there, among the guests, ceased, and, upon a slight cres- 
cendo of the strains of the music, appeared the bride, supported by her father, 
followed by Melton supporting upon his arm, his mother, and the others of' 
the wedding procession, in regulation order, followed. 

And so they were married. 

And the “Little Love God” smiled a peculiar smile which, interpreted, 
plainly said : “All in good time — all in good time,” and went on his “happy- 
path-finding” life’s work of making “two hearts beat as one.” 

Immediately following a loving embrace by Melton and Mary, after the 
closing words of the marriage ceremony, Mary, standing proudly by Melton’s 
side, produced from the bosom of her waist, her beloved “Flag of Victory” 
(which she had carefully preserved) and, gently waving it a moment, she held 
it up in one hand, gave the military salute with the other hand, and everyone 
present joined her in the salute, the grand whole forming a pretty spectacle to 
look upon, patriotically inspiring, the “barometer” flag, the while, floating, 
majestically, in the gentle breeze of a concealed, electric fan. So mote it be. 

The years rolled on — in fact, to be exact, eight more of them passed by, 
bringing us, in the course of this narrative, to the middle of the very day which 
was the eighth anniversary of the wedding of Melton and Mary, and, at this 
time, as the feast for the quiet, family celebration of the happy event, is upon 
the table, with Grandpas and Grandmas Porter and Ford as the guests of honor, 
we are permitted to look upon the two principals of this romance, Mr. and Mrs. 
Melton Porter, Sr., as the happy parents of two as lovely children as ever 
made justly proud the glad hearts of their progenitors — the same being Mel- 
ton, Jr., aged 6, and “Little Mary” the Second, aged 4. 

Their pretty home is a model of neatness toned with an atmosphere of 
homey-coziness, and we, all, are glad in our hearts, to have the blessed priv- 
ilege of looking upon the happy home-life of our beloved little heroine and her 
handsome, manly husband. 

Grandpa John Porter and Grandma Lydia Porter and Grandpa Dick Ford 
and Grandma Jennie Ford are, as we can plainly see, as care-free happy as any 
four children, and, if you would care to know, gentle readers who have (now 
heart-glad, now soul-sad) followed, with us, the at times seemingly hopeless 
wanderings of patient, little Dan Cupid, in his circuitous routes, ceaselessly 
and tirelessly, seeking (and, at last, successfully) to clear the pathway of the 
“love route” for the smooth journey of the “Little Love God” in his praise- 
worthy efforts to bring together, finally, “for better or for worse,” two loving 
hearts — if you would care to know and, of course, you do, these two perfectly 
lovely Grandmas and these two perfectly splendid Grandpas are (and pardonably 


THE LITTLE STRIKE-BREAKER. 


27 


f ^ beautiful little grand-children, Melton, Jr., and 

Little Mary, the Second, as any Grande Monarche on the throne of the most 
mighty Monarchy. 

Everything for the dinner being in readiness, the elders were about to sit 
at the table, when it was noticed that the children were not in the room. The 
room adjoining the dining-room was separated at the entrance from the dining- 
room, by heavy portieres. Hearing a suspicious sound issue from that room 
Mary tip-toed, cautiously, to the doorway and, peering between the portieres 
into the adjoining room, she witnessed a pretty, inspiring sight. She quietly 
beckoned the others to come and see. And what they all saw taking place in 
the adjoining, profusely flag-decorated room, was “Little Mary,” the Second, car- 
rying upon her shoulder a good-sized American flag, marching with exaggerated 
erectness around the room, proudly followed with much display of true military 
dignity by Melton, Jr., carrying upon his shoulder a fair-size toy gun. And, pret- 
tily. draped around the shoulders of each tiny patriot, was an American flag. 

It was with indescribable happiness that all witnessed this grand, inspiring 
spectacle — this military parade by Young America. 

After the happy watchers had feasted their eyes upon the pretty sight a 
few moments, Mary led the way and, taking a flag from the wall, she fell into 
line behind Melton, Jr. The others followed Mary’s example and all marched 
around the room, proud to be “soldiers” in the “Grand Army” so capably “Cap- 
tained” by “Little Mary” the Second, and so admirably “Lieutenanted” by Mel- 
ton, Jr. 

After the marchers had made the circuit of the room several times. Cap- 
tain “Little Mary” the Second stopped in front of an extra large flag draped 
upon the wall and, facing it, gave a military salute in which she was promptly 
and happily joined by the others. 

After the salute by the “Grand Army” composed of the valiant “warriors” 
of the mighty Houses of Porter and Ford, the “regiment” marched one-half 
around, forming a half-circle in front of the large flag which all, having stopped, 
saluted. Then Mary, speaking to the others, proudly stated : 

“I am raising my boy to be a soldier, his Country’s flag to defend,” and 
the significant, patriotic declaration was happily applauded by the other elders, 
all sensing the grand sentiment it exemplified and, again, all saluted the flag. 

What more fitting picture with which to close this heart-interest narrative 
than, in taking one, last look into the happy homelife of our dear, highly patri- 
otic friends, we view all of the others grouped, in a half-circle, about little 
Melton, Jr., as he, alone, (in allegorical illustration of the grand sentiment per- 
meating the patriotic utterance of his mother) is giving the flag the military 
salute ? 













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